Page 86 of Resisting Temptation (Men of Honor 3)
Mr. Winkleman foolishly doesn’t back down, and straightens to stand taller but barely reaches Cade’s chin. “I want my kid to get the apology he deserves and I expect full coverage on the medical expenses.” Judging by his suit I’d say money is not an issue for him at all.
Cade keeps his stance relaxed when I know he is feeling anything but. “She is not apologizing to him. She defended herself and your kid has had this coming for a long time…”
“She broke his nose! The girl is a damn animal and should be locked in a cage!”
I gasp, anger rushing to the surface hot and fast. Christopher steps around me. “Hey, who the hell are you calling an animal, asshole!”
Cade puts out his arm and holds him back. “Christopher, take your sister downstairs.” When he doesn’t obey, Cade loses his patience, and shouts, “Now!”
Everyone jumps at the command, including Henry and his father. Christopher picks up Ruthie, and, seeing how worried she is, I try to give her a reassuring smile before they disappear down the stairs.
Silence fills the room and the air seems to drop in temperature. My heart starts to pound wildly when Cade takes a menacing step toward the man. I put my hand on his arm in warning but he either doesn’t care or doesn’t notice. “If I were you, I’d remember that your kid is here, because I’m warning you right now if something like that comes out of your mouth again, kid or not, I will knock you on your ass.” The man swallows nervously and backs up as Cade remains in his personal space.
“Now I’m going to tell you what’s going to happen here. My kid is not apologizing to yours.” My heart comes to a sudden stop at hearing him call Ruthie his. “And we are not paying a cent of your medical bills. I taught her to do what she did today because your son has been pushing her around. So I hope, for his sake, he learned his lesson. Because if he even so much as makes her shed one more goddamn tear, I will make sure she breaks a different part of his body, then after she’s done kicking his ass, I’m going to come to your house and kick your ass!” The kid shirks back looking scared spit-less and his father doesn’t look much better. “Now get the hell out of my house before I throw you out!”
This time Mr. Winkleman is smart enough to back off. He tries to keep his composure as he and Henry scurry out the door.
Cade watches them get into their car and waits until they drive away before slamming the door. “Asshole.” He turns around to see me staring at him with a big, silly smile on my face. “What?”
My kid. Before I can say anything, Ruthie and Christopher come rushing in from their spot halfway down the stairs, where they were clearly eavesdropping.
Ruthie catapults herself at Cade and he catches her easily, sweeping her up in his arms. “Did you mean it?” she asks with a hopeful smile.
Cade looks back at her confused. “Mean what?”
“You talled me your tid. Did you mean it?”
Realization dawns in his eyes, and by his expression I’m not sure if he knew he said it or is just realizing he said it now. He glances at Christopher and me while Ruthie waits for him to answer. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t dying to know his answer too.
He looks back at her hopeful expression and says something that sends warmth exploding through my heart, “Yeah, kid, I meant it.”
“I knew you woved me,” she replies with a big smile before wrapping her arms around his neck. “I wuv you too, big guy. A whole wot.”
I watch so many emotions cross his handsome face, too many for me to even name, but just seeing any emotion from him makes me happy.
I glance over at Christopher next to me, and he steps back nervously. “Don’t even think about kissing me again.”
I smile and step away, but then swiftly turn back and plant a quick one right on his cheek.
“Oh come on, Faith! What is it with you?” he replies grumpily, wiping off his cheek.
Giggling, I ignore his grumbling and grab Ruthie from Cade. “Come on, honey, let’s get you ready for bed.”
After she says her goodnights to everyone I take her upstairs and tuck her in. The entire time she has a radiant smile on her face, which brings a matching one to mine. As I bend down to kiss her forehead, she wraps her arms around my neck tightly, “I wuv you, Faif, and I wuv ouwr family.”
My heart warms and I feel my throat clog with emotion. “Me too, Ruthie, all of you are the best things that ever happened to me.” Giving her one last kiss, I walk out of her room and head downstairs into the living room.
Cade sits on the couch, hunched over the coffee table, typing on his laptop. When I see no sign of Christopher and realize he went to bed, I start toward him. He looks up and braces himself just before I launch myself at him. I wrap my arms around his neck and give him no time to register what I’m about to do before I attack his sexy mouth.
Growling, he immediately takes control of the kiss, like always. His mouth is firm and demanding, yet gentle. Our tongues slide together in perfect harmony and everything falls away around us like it always does, as if we are the only two people left on this earth. I know it will always be like this because he is my one. The one who gave me my first kiss, and gave my body the only pleasure it’s ever known, and I will fight to make him my last. He is my dark angel and the man I love with my whole heart.
His hands move from my hips to cup my ass and he brings me snug against his erection. I whimper and he lets out a tortured groan before pulling away. Our foreheads rest against each other while we catch our breaths.
